THE GALLIFREY CHRONICLES, A NEW WAR
Author note last chapter.
The sequel is now up called Gallifrey A world at war.
Beta read by toavoidconversation
Disclaimer I only own the plot and my characters
Narvin could feel his hearts breaking in two.
"Emmaline!," screamed Romana as she ran towards where the Time Fissure had been, but it was well and truly gone, taking Emmaline with it.
''This is your fault!'' Damon snarled at Narvin. "Your rejection of her pushed her into doing this!" his hands had bunched into fists.
"No, I gave clear orders she was not to go on this mission. Why did nobody obey my orders I am the head of the CIA!" Narvin bellowed, angrily. If his orders had been followed, they would all still have Emmaline. The thought was too much to bear.
It had all got too much for Romana as she suddenly collapsed to the floor.
"Romana," Narvin rushed towards her and knelt before her, but she had passed out.
He scooped her up in his arms carrying her towards the TARDIS. Narvin felt overcome with guilt losing Emmaline before he had the chance to know her.
He carried Romana to her quarters placing her gently on the bed. Romana was all he had now and he had to take care of her. He kept hearing Emmaline's screams in his head. He asked himself what might have happened if he had done things differently; if he had not given Emmaline a job with the CIA she could be with them now.
Braxiatel had heard of Emmaline's death - or end, at least, since nobody really knew what happened to a person who went through a Time Fissure - and he felt the loss so greatly. He had been so affected by Emmaline when she had been alive, she had got into his head and somehow gotten past all of his barriers. He had fallen deeply in love with her and now the pain was too much that he would never see her again, or hear her infectious laugh, never be able to hold her in his arms. Even in sleep the nightmares plagued him of his role in this. If only he had told her the truth at the start. If only he had not been so ambitious over wanting to be president. If only he had not ordered her to work for the CIA... if only he hadn't done all of those things, she would have been with him, not on some suicide mission.
The days passed by in a blur, sometimes Romana even forgot what day it was; all she knew was that Emmaline was gone. She was sat in her office now when Braxiatel came in.
"Romana," he began gently, "I thought you might need a friend."
At first she did not respond; she stared straight through him like she had not seen him. So he tried again. "Romana," he spoke softly, gently taking her hand which she roughly pulled away as if he was to cause her harm. Suddenly her eyes seemed to focus as she recognised her visitor.
"Brax," she gasped, her emotions all over the place the question on her lips she needed to know."Did you care for her, or was it just a game?" She stood up to face him.
Braxiatel lowered his eyes, and said softly, "I cared so much for her. She changed me, got into my head and affected me somehow. I can't believe she's gone. I cared so much..." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. She pressed herself into his shoulder, as the tears started. "It hurts," she whimpered as Braxiatel held her trying his best to comfort her.
"I know. It hurts us all." he whispered
Finally they pulled away. "Narvin has asked me to marry him," she said.
Braxiatel raised an eyebrow. "And are you going to?"
Romana shrugged. "I don't know, it feels wrong now, after losing Emmaline."
Braxiatel nodded in understanding but said, "One thing I knew about Emmaline, she loved you and she would want you to be happy. If Narvin makes you happy, maybe he is what you need." he touched her cheek gently. "I am and always will be your friend, and no matter how hard it is. I think it's time to try to live our lives - all of them - despite the pain," he managed to say. "I miss her too and I am so sorry for my part in her death."
"She sacrificed herself to save our world and her short life- " Romana began, but she didn't get much further before long her hearts felt like they were shattering inside her, and she clung to Braxiatel.
Finally, after some long calming breaths, she pulled away. "Thank you for the counsel," she said solemnly. "High council meeting," she said as she walked out followed by Braxiatel
It was coming to the end of the high council meeting. Usually Romana would leave, and shortly after Narvin would follow but tonight was different; she was talking to the other Time Lords, but all the while glancing over at Narvin. Once she had finished her conversation she started to walk towards him, and without warning she threw herself into his arms, kissing him all over his face. "Yes," she said breathlessly.
"Yes?" he repeated, hoping that she meant what he thought she meant.
"Yes. Yes, yes, yes, Yes!" she said tearfully and breathlessly, grabbing him and kissing him right in front of her personal staff, in front of Braxiatel and in front of the high council.
There were a few disapproving mutters.
"Well I bet you didn't see that coming," said one Time Lord quite loudly in the room which had fallen silent as all eyes had been fixed on the most unlikely couple in the history of Gallifrey. Romana couldn't help but notice Braxiatel smiling at her as if he was still proud of her after all these years and it seemed that he did (in a sense) approve of Narvin as being what she needed. She had always known deep down he had been proud to have been her Tutor and her advisor; everything else was not important.
"That's so undignified," spat another Time Lord, and Narvin spoke into the silence.
"I have an announcement. I have asked Romana to marry me, and she has accepted."
The room fell silent once more, until laughter filled the room.
"Oh very good Co-ordinator," one Time Lord said, but his face fell as soon as it was clear it wasn't a joke.
"You weren't joking ,"he said looking at Romana and Narvin.
"Well quite frankly I don't have a sense of humour," replied Romana, sliding her arm around Narvin's waist as they exited the room.
"We need to find Emmaline," said Romana smiling at Narvin. "To tell her our news."
Narvin looked at her, as horror filled his face. "Romana," he said softly. "You do remember don't you? Emmaline...is gone. She fell into the Time Fissure. You saw it."
"That's not funny," she said, huffily, "You don't joke about things like that,"
Narvin's concern for Romana was growing. It was like she was in complete denial, or she had completely forgotten."Romana, I think something- he began, but Romana had wrenched her arm away from his and run off.
"Emmaline! EMMALINE!" shouted Romana as she ran through the capital. As she was met with no response she sank to the ground, and all of her memories came flooding back to her. She started shaking and sobbing before Narvin caught up with her. Narvin wrapped his arms around her as she sat curled up on the floor. Suddenly the sobbing ceased and Romana went still and limp in his arms as she lost consciousness.
He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the nearest medical station before placing his President softly on the bed."She's pregnant," Narvin explained, "and Emmaline, well I'm sure you heard is no longer with us. Romana she has not really accepted it, and then she just collapsed," said Narvin with a worried expression on his face.
"It's like in her mind, Emmaline is still very much alive, she can't fully accept and understand that Emmaline has gone." said one of the doctors to Narvin in the medical station quietly. "Its going to take some time for Romana to work through her grief the only thing you can do is be there she will need you."
Narvin walked over to the bed and gently stroked her hair as she lay on the bed before placing a kiss to her forehead then left her to sleep.
It had been much later after she woke that Romana had another meeting and Narvin stayed by her side, already concerned for her mental state and her physical state. He desperately wanted her to slow down, for her to accept Emmaline's death, to let it all out and to open up, but every time he tried she pushed him out. She kept jumping from denying Emmaline was dead to screams and crying when she was confronted with the truth.
Then she would sit silently and not utter a word, and Narvin was so concerned that he wanted someone with her at all times to make sure she did not harm herself.
Leela and Braxiatel took turns to sit with her when Narvin was engaged on other matters but neither were able to get through to her. He had thought of sending for the Doctor but he remembered how hard it had been for her to say goodbye to him again last time, but maybe if things got worse he would have no choice than to involve him.
"Time is all she needs," said Braxiatel taking control of much of his former student's care much to Narvin's anger. He did not want him screwing up Romana's life like he had done with Emmaline's but he knew Romana had to come first and could not stress Romana out any more than she already was.
"Romana," Brax said gently taking her hand. He had never seen her in this state for a long time, she simply sat there as tears fell down her face, but she made no sound.
It broke Braxiatel's hearts and he would have given up all his life's just to see her smile at him.
She finally looked up. "I have to get back to work," she said. Her voice was trying be strong as she stood up.
"Romana, no. You are in no fit state to be there today."
"I have to, Gallifrey needs me. I am fine," she whispered he led her back to the sofa where she broke down in tears. Braxiatel held her as she wailed and sobbed.
"It's all right, just let it all out." Braxiatel said softly, holding Romana as she cried into his shoulder.
Narvin was stood in the hallway of the CIA when Romana had come along. he was bellowing at his staff not noticing Romana standing there.
"Well, does anyone want to confess why my daughter was given permission to be on this mission?" Narvin bellowed.
Nobody answered. Nobody even moved.
"Well co-ordinator?" Romana turned to face Narvin, her face tear-stained but also furious. She still hadn't quite come to terms with the disastrous event, and was desperately trying to find somebody to blame. At the moment, Narvin fit the bill just fine.
"I already told you Madam President-"Narvin began, but Romana cut him off.
"I want to know the name of the Agent who sanctioned this and I want to know now, no excuses." She snapped.
"I think you are forgetting that I cared about Emmaline, I am trying to find out who is responsible for this happening to our daughter -" Narvin protested.
"Our daughter? She was more of a daughter to me than to you; you didn't care for her when she was alive! You will name this agent and they will be brought to account, or if they are not, you will take the fall. Is that quite clear?"
"Yes Madam President, that is quite clear," Narvin said in a clipped tone in anger at how she could talk to him like that in front his staff.
"So I take it the honey moon is over, before the-," one of the agents smugly started to say.
"Get away from me," Romana hissed angrily. As she walked away tears streaked down her face.
Now days later she simply sat in her private home not talking, not eating or drinking and growing paler each day. Narvin was beside himself; he could not get her to eat or move, she would simply cry and push him away- but he could not leave her or the baby, even though Romana had irritated him a few days ago with her threat.
There was only one last thing he could think of and that was to bring the Doctor back to Gallifrey maybe he would have better luck, because nobody else could reach her; not even Leela or Braxiatel could comfort her any more. It was like there was still so much to come out as she stared straight through them.
"What about you,? Leela confronted him one day. ''How are you?''
"I am fine," he snapped, and Leela scoffed.
''When a Time Lord says they are fine it means they are not fine. You need to grieve too." she said wisely.
"I think I have wasted enough time on grief," spat Narvin. "I barely knew her. Romana's right she was more of a daughter to her than me."
"That may be so, but I sense your pain." Narvin looked away.
"I don't need to grieve Emmaline," he managed to choke out that last word. He punched the wall in frustration "Emmaline," he said again, and he gritted his teeth in anger.
Leela put an hand on his shoulder. "It's all right to grieve for her although you did not know her. You cared a great deal for her. But Romana needs you and I think you need her too."
"Oh, she has you and Braxiatel for her needs."
"Indeed, but it is your name she cries when she is sleeping. You could help each other grieve. I did not care for your relationship with Romana at first, but I see how good you have been for her and her for you. Do not throw the one good thing you have away, now go be with her."
Narvin nodded and left.
He found her in her office. There was no sign of the Doctor; he had clearly been too busy to deal with Romana. 'Fat lot of good he was to Romana' Narvin grumbled as he opened the door.
"Narvin," she whispered. It broke his hearts to see her tear stained face and her eyes so full of pain. "Hold me," she whispered, and in a heartbeat Narvin had crossed the room and scooped her into his arms. he finally let himself break down as his tears ran into her hair.
'All we had needed was each other...' Narvin thought as they both clung to each other.
"So sorry," whispered Romana into his chest. "It hurts so much. It should have been me." she sobbed loudly before realising Narvin was crying himself. It was the first time she had ever seen the normally stoic Co-ordinator cry. She held him so much tighter trying to comfort him as best she could. "Oh Narvin I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she gasped into his hair.
He stayed with her for hours but then had to leave, leaving Romana alone when the door swung open. She spun round and came face to face with Bainbridge.
"What are you doing here?" her voice barely hid her fear.
''I think somebody needs teaching a lesson… and seeing as Emmaline has gone, that leaves only you," he hissed menacingly as he pointed the staser gun at her. "Move." he demanded as he grabbed her hands twisting them behind her back as he tied her hands up as she tried to struggle.
As she got to the door he put his hands round her neck pushing her out. The Guards outside were laying dead. Now she was terrified; she could hardly breathe as alarms were blaring around the capital.
"It's over Bainbridge; give yourself up" stated Braxiatel, coming round the corner. Bainbridge spun around and quick as a flash he was pointing his gun at Romana's head. Romana started to tremble and shake.
Seeing Romana held at gun point made him want to kill Bainbridge; Brax could not stand to see anyone harm Romana and the mere thought of it made his insides twist and turn.
"Brax, " she managed to choke out.
Bainbridge struck her across the face tightening his grip on her. " Silence! I didn't give you permission to speak," he hissed "One move and she dies," he snarled at Braxiatel, his arm around her throat so that she could hardly breathe.
"Let her go," said Braxiatel. "Nobody has to get hurt."
Bainbridge laughed bitterly. "I am getting off Gallifrey, she is my hostage and she is mine to do with as I wish."
"She is pregnant! How could you? Now let her go." Braxiatel hissed angrily. But his words fell on deaf ears. Braxiatel felt sick to his stomach, what was Bainbridge planning on doing to her? He looked worriedly at Romana who looked anything but okay she looked deadly pale and a mixture of fear and panic was in her eyes. She had already been through so much, he could not allow his former student, his friend, his President to be hurt any more.
"Open the door, then put your hands on your head." Bainbridge said shortly. Brax hesitated.
"Do as he says," Romana said shakily, as the fear continued to flow through her; she could not lose another child.
Braxiatel had no choice but do as he was told. He couldn't risk Romana's life; there had already been too much death on Gallifrey. He could only watch as Bainbridge led her away
After he had disappeared through the doors he grabbed his phone. "Get me Co-ordinator Narvin. We have a Code Red situation! Romana, repeat, Madame President,has been taken from Gallifrey!''
A/N I am ending it here I will be doing a sequence So I will probably post on this story once its up.
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